The half-mile 8th Street Greenway begins at North Loop Road and follows a tree-lined northwesterly route to Bakers Creek Park, where it connects to a trail of the same name which is part of a regional...

The Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway has several neighborhood entrances in Gastonia. The 1.9-mile trail winds alongside Catawba Creek and Avon Creek with a few small bridges crossings along the way....

The paved, scenic Bakers Creek Greenway follows its eponymous creek, connecting two parks in central North Carolina's Kannapolis. The trail is part of the Carolina Thread Trail, a network of pathways...

The Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail provides a 2-mile moderately challenging hike or mountain bike ride in the rural community of Mount Pleasant, about 30 miles northeast of Charlotte. The unpaved trail...

The Elkin & Alleghany Rail-Trail is part of an effort to connect the rural town of Elkin with the nearby Stone Mountain State Park, utilizing the long-abandoned route of the historic Elkin & Alleghany...

Kings Mountain Gateway Trail is situated in a beautiful natural park setting offering a picnic shelter, restrooms, drinking fountains, and parking. Much of the park is heavily wooded and the trail is...

As you might expect, the South Fork Rail-Trail closely follows the South Fork of the Catawba River on the south end of Lincolnton. The trail rests atop a former rail corridor within land preserved by...

Torrence Creek Greenway offers a pleasant route through meadows, woodlands, and wetlands south of Huntersville. Along the paved, 1.4-mile route, the trail offers many points to access the surrounding...

The Twelve Mile Creek Trail, which runs through Walnut Creek Park and the Walnut Creek neighborhood in Lancaster, is part of the Carolina Thread Trail, a growing trail network of more than 200 miles...

The multi-use Yadkin River Trail accommodates pedestrians, bicyclists and joggers in the beautiful Happy Valley area of Caldwell County. The 2-mile trail is paved and includes a walking loop near the...

In northern South Carolina, only about 30 miles southwest of Charlotte, lies the quaint city of York. A paved bicycle trail runs through the heart of the community from its city park to its recreation...

Torrence Creek Greenway offers a pleasant route through meadows, woodlands, and wetlands south of Huntersville. Along the paved, 1.4-mile route, the trail offers many points to access the surrounding...

Kings Mountain Gateway Trail is situated in a beautiful natural park setting offering a picnic shelter, restrooms, drinking fountains, and parking. Much of the park is heavily wooded and the trail is...

The Elkin & Alleghany Rail-Trail is part of an effort to connect the rural town of Elkin with the nearby Stone Mountain State Park, utilizing the long-abandoned route of the historic Elkin & Alleghany...

In northern South Carolina, only about 30 miles southwest of Charlotte, lies the quaint city of York. A paved bicycle trail runs through the heart of the community from its city park to its recreation...

The paved, scenic Bakers Creek Greenway follows its eponymous creek, connecting two parks in central North Carolina's Kannapolis. The trail is part of the Carolina Thread Trail, a network of pathways...

The Twelve Mile Creek Trail, which runs through Walnut Creek Park and the Walnut Creek neighborhood in Lancaster, is part of the Carolina Thread Trail, a growing trail network of more than 200 miles...

The Elkin & Alleghany Rail-Trail is part of an effort to connect the rural town of Elkin with the nearby Stone Mountain State Park, utilizing the long-abandoned route of the historic Elkin & Alleghany...

Kings Mountain Gateway Trail is situated in a beautiful natural park setting offering a picnic shelter, restrooms, drinking fountains, and parking. Much of the park is heavily wooded and the trail is...

The multi-use Yadkin River Trail accommodates pedestrians, bicyclists and joggers in the beautiful Happy Valley area of Caldwell County. The 2-mile trail is paved and includes a walking loop near the...

The Elkin & Alleghany Rail-Trail is part of an effort to connect the rural town of Elkin with the nearby Stone Mountain State Park, utilizing the long-abandoned route of the historic Elkin & Alleghany...

The Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail provides a 2-mile moderately challenging hike or mountain bike ride in the rural community of Mount Pleasant, about 30 miles northeast of Charlotte. The unpaved trail...

In northern South Carolina, only about 30 miles southwest of Charlotte, lies the quaint city of York. A paved bicycle trail runs through the heart of the community from its city park to its recreation...

The Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway has several neighborhood entrances in Gastonia. The 1.9-mile trail winds alongside Catawba Creek and Avon Creek with a few small bridges crossings along the way....

The multi-use Yadkin River Trail accommodates pedestrians, bicyclists and joggers in the beautiful Happy Valley area of Caldwell County. The 2-mile trail is paved and includes a walking loop near the...

Kings Mountain Gateway Trail is situated in a beautiful natural park setting offering a picnic shelter, restrooms, drinking fountains, and parking. Much of the park is heavily wooded and the trail is...

The Twelve Mile Creek Trail, which runs through Walnut Creek Park and the Walnut Creek neighborhood in Lancaster, is part of the Carolina Thread Trail, a growing trail network of more than 200 miles...

Recent Trail Reviews

Irwin Creek and Stewart Creek Greenways

Too dark to use at night

I live around the corner from the start of the trail and use it often to travel Uptown for work and leisure. I recently attended the Knights game but traveling home on the trail after the game was quite scary. While I have lights on my bike, even those weren't enough to see the trail while riding. I wish there were a few lights after the Wesley Heights neighborhood portion of the trail so that I felt safer riding in the evenings.

Lower McAlpine Creek, McMullen Creek & Four Mile Creek Greenways

A good 8 miles

Trail is mostly pavement, boardwalk (my favorite parts) and gravel that make up the 4 miles of rolling small hills. Have run the trail several times while in the area. Get to hear and see some nature during your run, walk or ride.
If in the area and want to get some miles in, this is a nice safe place.

Lower McAlpine Creek, McMullen Creek & Four Mile Creek Greenways

One of the best all-purpose trails/paths.

Walk, stroll, run, bike - mix of wide paved, boardwalk and gravel. Well maintained, in fact several sections where roots had buckled the path now re-paved. Easy for any bike, kids size through road/MTB/recumbent - use a bell/courtesy "passing on your left" because many walkers/runners are chatting or have the ear buds in. Well marked in 1/4 mile increments.
Boardwalks get very slick in rain/ice so careful when running/biking. After strong rains the path can get muddy - and flood in places.
Port-a-johns at both ends. Multiple side access paths all along the greenway. Plenty of benches spaced along.
I run/bike this regularly and rare to not see deer.

Twelve Mile Creek Trail

Great Hike/MTB trail

Wife and I hiked this trail from the NC side, parked at Harvey Clay Nesbit park, and used Carolina Thread Trail "clues" to link to this trail. We did hike the full trail to Walnut Creek side - as others have mentioned there are some rough/rugged spots so a true MTB is recommended, but hiking in sturdy shoes gets the job done too.
Beautiful trail overall.

Torrence Creek Greenway

Nice ride!

Shelby Rail-Trail

Rail Trail

This trail has a lot of pros but one big con. Pros are: extremely well maintained (hats off to those maintaining it), no big inclines which is great if you have joint pain like I do, freakin' AWESOME. suspension bridge, beautiful walnut trees and blackberry bushes, trail follows river so nice views of that. Con: noise from highway can be heard during nearly the entire hike. This is a major turn off for me because when I hike, I want to be immersed in the sites and sounds of nature and leave the outside world behind.

Salem Lake Trail

Salem Lake Trail

First ride around the lake last week. The leaves have really not started to change but when they do it will be nice. The ride was 7 miles. Not strenuous. Caught myself checking out nature and the wildlife and not paying attention to others on the trail. ;) Thinking of getting a bell for my bike to warn people I am coming up on them.

Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail

Only a one way trip

Enjoyed the walk, but this trail does not loop. When you get to the end there's a sign that says this is the end of the trail(it meets a stone road, so you think you can loop), but, you must turn around. Half of the trail has been clear cut of trees with no shade; weeds too high to see much in that area. You could easily loop back out around Mt. Pleasant rd if biking. Definately an easy mountain bike trail.

Kings Mountain Gateway Trail

Gateway Trail

The short loop trails are a great way to unwind. Either the Butterfly Garden or at the top of Cardio Hill. Also offers workout stations which I haven't seen in sometime. Will maintained and great facilities at the trail head. Great view of Crowders and Kings Mountain from the top of Cardio Hill.

Lower McAlpine Creek, McMullen Creek & Four Mile Creek Greenways

Lower McAlpine Creek

Very nice trail but you must be careful if you are a walker or hiker. Some people riding bikes need to slow down coming around corners and its very easy to have an accident. Nice long walk under cover with some spots of heated sun.